richNjoisy

I believe the next penalty for Lynch IF he gets a suspension out of this is one year. Not 2 or 4 or 8 games. He lasted longer than I thought he would. I was happy for him and sad we (I) had misjudged him. Sad for him obviously but he's mess (I guess). This will bring the Seahawks down a notch if they lose him. Again, this is a sad state of affairs. I would only wish this on the Cheatriots.

Bills o line looks very good right now. I fully expect Cordy to be ready and Sentrel shifted to starting RT (a guess on my part). I don't know who will win the open Guard spot. A great battle nonetheless. Possibly the best offensive line the Bills have had since the Kelly days. Also.....entire team has had only 7 penalties for a total of 65 yards in two games. Remarkable for such a young club. Just saw this on MMQB (cnnsi): "Flagville. Good work by John Clayton, adding up the illegal contact and defensive holding penalties from the first 17 preseason games. The league wants defensive players to have hands off after the five-yard bump zone at the line of scrimmage, and to not hold or grab at all. Rest assured it won’t be called as closely in week one of the regular season as it was over the weekend; the theory is players will get used to the new strictures and will stop all the clutching and grabbing mostly naturally. Back to the numbers: There were 37 illegal contact penalties all of last regular season; there have been 27 in the first 17 preseason games. There were 171 defensive holds calls. So far this preseason, 53 defensive holds have been whistled. The Bills have their defenders practicing with boxing gloves; St. Louis defensive backs take the field in scrimmage holding tennis balls, so they’re tempted to not grab. I’m told the league plans to officiate tight in the preseason, but I cannot imagine the same ticky-tack stuff being called once the regular games start. We’ll see." (second emphasis mine. The glove-thing must be working!) Full link: http://mmqb.si.com/2014/08/11/johnny-manziel-preseason-browns-michael-sam-rams/6/

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-jordan-mills-brian-de-la-puente-injuries-20140810-story.html Again, this is just an FYI on a situation that could impact the Bills-Bears game. Obviously, still 3 weeks to go and I am not suggesting this is a "good" thing that the Bears have injuries.

A few other positives that I have not seen mentioned by people here: Only two penalties total and this for the first preseason game. Remarkable. Apparently, too, the referees were watching closely for defensive holding. The Giants were called for this several times. When you add onto this - as the title of this thread suggests - depth on the offensive line and -- YOUTH -- this underscores even more how well the offensive line performed. Encouraging.

It looks like NFL channel will broadcast this game at 3 am

Patriots | Workout Brady Quinn Fri, 01 Aug 2014 11:13:45 -0700 The New England Patriots worked out free-agent QB Brady Quinn (Rams) Monday, July 28. Read more: http://www.kffl.com/hotw/nfl#ixzz39AMTcMqk **************** I guess this means the Cheatriots are preparing for the next Brady era????

Kansas City Chiefs SS Eric Berry (leg, foot) was carted off at practice Thursday, July 31, with a right leg or foot injury. SS Jerron McMillian has taken his place. Reports at scene hear Berry blaming injury on Stevie Johnson. (now with San Fran) (this last line is fake, of course...)

Maybe but seriously "time wounds all heals" which is to say, just like my beagle after I give him a biscuit, we Bills fans will quickly get to, "what have you done for me lately?". So, Terry and Kim, now that you own the Bills and they are staying.....ummm..... WE WANT A CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!!" just sayin'

Kirby - first off, thanks for the input you provide. Your latest comment (which I bet you already posted but I can't recall) pretty clearly states that any bidder must IN WRITING agree to never move the Bills (you just wrote, "their word won't be good enough"). But I am trying to get a handle on what this would mean for ANY bidder (even if it were Jim Kelly which I know is ridiculous but I am using him as the "guy who would never move the Bills" example). How can a multi- billionaire sign away all his/her rights to at least have the option of running their business where they want to? They could never use the threat to get money for stadium repairs, etc etc. Ralph never truly intended to move the team but he sure used the threat occasionally, didn't he? We have had a few (pseudo?) lawyers on this site talking about how contracts aren't worth the paper they are written on. So, are you still certain that any buyer will not have the option...at all.....to move the team....ever? Well, hopefully, the signed document will have enough teeth to keep the team in Buffalo. But, I'm no lawyer...... Thanks again KJ for your posts.

This may be difficult to do, but if it were me, I have a preset sheet in front me so I could check off several things all at once that - in addition to what you listed - also noted things such as (checked down, went through to second or third receiver set, under pressure, no pressure, lots of time, scrambled (early?), type of pass (fade, straight-line middle, down and out (timing)), etc . Thanks ahead of time for such an indepth analysis.

I keep finding 45.2 gross and 41.2 net for his 2013 year (senior) for Hornsey

I would think so too. I am only raising the question.

Exactly. Of course they can. Or should. One possibility, perhaps, is they have an eye on a team that has two punters they like right now and are waiting for a release. A clue to this will be who is doing the holding during Training camp and preseason games. If not Moorman.......

I have been reading a bit about this very point the past few days. But this means that Moorman's ability to hold for FG's is so much better than , say, another WR or QB on the team that the fact that he is nearly the worst punter in the league is worth the cost. I am sorry, but I can't accept that. This is not to say that holding for kicks is unimportant. It is. But punting IS important - kicks inside the 20, kicking a team out of trouble when backed up, long hang times to prevent big returns....this is important too. IMO, no amount of holding prowess makes it worth going into a season knowing you have one of the worst punters in the league.

In 2013, Moorman finished near the bottom of the NFL in average yards per punt (30th place at 41.2 yards per punt) and in punts inside the 20-yard line (31st place with 16). His average from 2012 to 2013 went down 3.6 yards and his punts inside the 20 fell by six. Now, Dombrowski, averaged 39.99 average at Harvard in his senior year in 2012 which was was enough to earn him All-Ivy League honors and an invite to Jacksonville Jaguars rookie mini-camp last season. Tom Hornsey booted 80 punts for a 42.7-yard average with a long of 63 and 24 inside the 20-yard line during his first taste of American football in '10. Led the nation and set the school record for number of punts in '11 after booming 95-42-L66-23. In '12, produced 60-43.4-L63-25 and had right knee surgery (torn meniscus) in May. Won the Ray Guy Award in '13 after recording 62-45.2-L79-29 and was the American Athletic Conference's Co-Special Teams Player of the Year. Was a threat during his career on fake punts, converting all four of his attempts with three rushes for 62 yards and completed a 61-yard pass. Almost all punters, Doc, are UDFA, not all but most. So no surprise Moorman was an UDFA. Your point that he was on a practice squad is valid - aka went unnoticed until the Bills snagged him. Not here but I have read that Dombrowski indeed has yet-to-be-seen talent that can be brought out through pro coaching. But I started this thread asking the question , "why no challenge to Moorman?" Hornsey was just one example of a college player with better stats.

C'mon promo that's one punt. What matters are his total numbers which look incredibly mediocre. Look I hope YOU are right and the kids great. But, jeesh, you really think one punt on youtube means the kid is "competition"?

I'm sorry kdiggz if I sound obnoxious here - but I thought I was clear that by "challenged" I meant a real challenge. The Harvard kid averaged 5+ less yards net per kick. The Punter I mentioned won the top punting award . My question was about quality of the challenge. His stats certainly suggest he would be someone of value in camp. One only needed to look at the roster to see the Harvard kid. I then looked up his numbers and , IMO, they were mediocre.

I don't get it. Moorman is 38 and was losing his leg years ago (and hence the Bills released him). Now he is 2 years plus removed from being released and he (seemingly) has no competition? The Ray Guy award winner from college last year is sitting at home. Why do they not bring in a young strong leg (like Tom Hornsey)? Maybe they have someone they plan to pick up after a release in late August? http://rayguyaward.com/tom-hornsey-2013/

This IS interesting if what you hear is correct, John. I ask myself, "what impacts the speed of the sale"? 1.) Financial and legal issues -based on what I have learned, read, and experienced, the Bills process DOES appear speedy. All the checkpoints seem to being met at the earliest date or so. This means the value of the team has been determined, documents are in order, etc. 2.) "acceptable" bidders need to be found. - again, this part seems done ALREADY. 3.) Bids are taken and then a winning bid is accepted* 4.) Winning bidder must be approved by NFL (24/31 owners) - I only see Trump as being at risk of "failing" this vote process. * I see 3 as being the really big unknown but the "quick sale process" SUGGESTS that a bidding war may not happen and that the Trust (group of 4) already have a favorite. My guess would be Pegula. This would mean that Ralph stipulated something having to do with the opinion of the Trust as to whom to believe when a prospective bidder states they will not move the team. Obviously, the chances of a higher sell price go up with a bidding war. So, my conjecture means Ralph was willing to sell the team for less than it might actually be worth as the result of a bidding war (as opposed to the assessed value which was shown to the bidders yesterday). Ralph may have concluded (correctly IMO) that the number the financial people came up with stating the current value of the Bills was "enough". Gordon Gecko would have disagreed with that sentiment of course. -RnJ What are you suggesting?

Hey Dorkington - In almost every case, very little information is provided non-family members concerning a person's health status. This is BY LAW. There are, however, rare cases where someone rescinds that right and instructs his family members and healthcare providers to release some or all of the information. Jim Kelly has basically allowed the release of almost all his health information. I am sure he has not allowed them to release some of the "grittier" details (such as nausea etc) and there is really no need to discuss every detail of his treatment. I am saying this to try to reassure you as much as possible that the information , in Kelly's case, is amazingly accurate and there is little being held back. So, what we know is a lot right now: His first major set of treatments are done. He is being sent home because the treatment series is done and he is healthy enough to go home. This is not bad news. This is good news. Now, we (meaning EVERYONE) have to wait to see how well the first set of treatments worked to eradicate the cancer(s). I believe there is every expectation he will need a second round of treatments but I do not recall what the entire regimen is supposed to encompass. It is out there somewhere (perhaps even in this Thread). Lastly, several medical experts have chimed in to state that Jim's cancer while very serious IS treatable and they say can be handled effectively to prolong his life and may even put him into remission. So, my point is - him going home is good news. There has been no reports he has been placed on hospice care. If THAT occurs, then the news would be the worst possible in terms of his survival. So be happy for him he is out of the hospital . -RnJ PS: My wife is a hospital chaplain (RevNJoisy) and I have learned much of this from her- (God bless her)

Years of losing plus too much time and endless discussions (I am just as guilty, folks) tends to make people forget much of the good and remember the bad. EJ had bad moments last year but jeesh he was rookie. This kid played tough against the Cheatriots and the loss was not on him. Against the Panthers, he led the team down the field to win the game. He was incredible in the Atlanta game - TWICE leading the team to victory only to have his veteran receivers fumble the lead and eventually the game away. It is way too early to judge the kid. Yes, the Bills can win this year without him playing "great" but there is every reason to be hopeful he truly IS a great QB. I am more worried about his health to be honest than I am about his future ability to be a great QB. I simply saw too many good things in his rookie season to not be hopeful. -RnJ

The thing that drove me crazy about the "great" Bills defense last year was the number of HUGE run gainers (sometimes for long TD runs) that the defense gave up. Correct me if I am wrong, but it is my understanding that most games are won or lost on the number of huge plays given up (particularly scoring plays). Quite often, last year's defense would stop run after run for little gain and then suddenly....a huge gainer (often right up the middle). It seemed to me that this was the case of a player (or players) out of position at a critical moment (or place). I heard a lot about that person being Kiko. I have not studied the film like some on these Board (I only keep the wins and erase the losses). So my CONJECTURE is that the Bills move of Kiko to the outside is one step to reducing the big run gainers. The second step should be to make sure the "new Schwartz" defense gives up fewer huge gainers. So, is this a Schwartz specialty? I realize it is the players that make the plays, guys but cannot the scheme make one more or less vulnerable to the big gainer? Anyone have nay clue as to how Schwartz' defenses rate in this stat?

I do miss the "old days" when the Bills could easily pick up 1-2 yards on a run play even when the other team KNEW we were going to run. How many games would we have won last year with a great power run game? I figure more than just the Chiefs game.

........truly , truly sucked. http://www.cleveland...are_accura.html I am SURE Mel will be giving people who paid him a refund. Yeh, right. And , yes, I will be mocking away this time again next year. (Addicts need their "fix" (sigh) ) Also see the overall scores: http://www.thehuddlereport.com/scoring/top100.shtml

THIS - I totally agree with this assessment. I LOVED Stevie but I could not help but notice he was not developing a rapport with EJ - sure EJ was hurt A LOT but, still, it was clear that Woods was EJ's favorite target. Stevie's forte is to improvise. It worked with The beard but was not nearly as successful with EJ.